- 26/05/2015
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEW WAYS OF USING CULTURE TO TACKLE POVERTY.
WALES SETS EXAMPLE IN USING CULTURE TO TACKLE POVERTY
Wales is to set another example to the rest of the UK by using culture to tackle poverty in some of Wales’ most deprived communities.
Mike said… ‘I welcome this new approach to using Culture to address Poverty issues in deprived communities. People in deprived communities often have fewer opportunities to get involved in Culture related activities; this initiative will enable people to try out new things from appearing activities, appearing in productions to back stage activities. ‘
Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, has launched the new Fusion: Tackling Poverty through Culture Programme which brings together Communities First and cultural bodies for the first time to engage with and inspire young people and adults who wouldn’t normally have the opportunities to participate in culture and the arts.
The initial strand of the Programme establishes six Pioneer Areas in Wales, one of which is Swansea, which will be supported to trial new approaches which will place culture at the heart of their work with disadvantaged communities.
This includes creating a range of opportunities for people in Communities First areas to engage with culture, from school visits to enrich the school curriculum, to cultural volunteering opportunities and accredited learning for adults. Each will focus on helping individuals, families and communities engage with heritage and culture to support learning and developing important skills.
The programme is complemented by the Welsh Labour Government’s Arts and Creative Learning Plan, which will increase and improve arts opportunities in our schools, and greater cultural participation in the Schools Challenge Cymru programme.
The six Pioneer Areas will operate for a pilot year (2015-2016), with a view to rolling out more widely. Pioneer Areas will work within a national framework of support which will allow participants to promote and share learning and good practice, and also include focussed research and evaluation to measure success of the programme and impact on participants.
Ends.
